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CHAPTER 65 – Jude: Approx. 77 A.D.

The Epistle of Jude is the sixty-fifth book of the Bible. The title of the book in Greek is Ioudas meaning “of Jude.” The title in English Bibles is “The Epistle of Jude.”

Authorship

Jude, a half-brother of Jesus Christ, is the author of the book, The Epistle of Jude. It was probably written about 77 A.D.

Summary and Analysis

The book of Jude is actually a letter (epistle) that was written by the Jude to Christians everywhere, and there is no clear evidence of the location from which it was written.

The book opens with Jude describing himself as a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James (the author of The Epistle of James in the Bible) and Jude sends greetings to true Christians everywhere. Jude says that he was about to write to the Christians about the salvation they have in common with him, however, he found that there was an urgent need to instead write encouraging them to strive against errors by cleaving to the original Christian faith that was delivered once and for all time to the saints (the justified) by Christ Himself.

For certain ungodly men have crept into the Christian church without the church members being aware of it. These men, whom God in old times had already condemned, have frustrated the grace of God by their evil inclination to lewdness, and have denied Jesus Christ.

Remember, Jude says, that God who delivered the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt, afterwards destroyed those who had no trust in God. Likewise, the angels who left their God-appointed post in heaven, God has reserved, symbolically, in chains and spiritual darkness, until God’s Judgment Day. Similarly, God has made Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them which practised fornication (sexual intimacy between people not married to each other) and homosexual acts, an example of God’s vengeance by pouring eternal fire upon them, that is, fire that burned them to ashes just like hellfire will.

Likewise, these men who pose as those having prophetic dreams from God, live in accordance with their sinful nature, reject authority, and speak evil of the holy angels. Yet Michael the Archangel, who is Christ Himself, when striving with the Devil, that is, with Satan, about raising the dead body of Moses to life again, dared not make a charge of wrongdoing against Satan, but said to Satan, The Lord (God) rebuke you.

But, Jude says, he wishes misery upon these men who corrupt themselves. For they have followed the wicked way of Cain, have greedily abandoned themselves to Balaam’s error of seeking profit for himself for opposing God’s will, and perished like Korah in their rebellion against God. They are like hidden reefs in the sea in your godly feasts, selfishly caring for their own interests at the expense of the interests of others without any reverence for God.

These wicked men are like clouds that bring no rain, trees whose fruit withers and which have been plucked up by the roots, untamed waves of the sea exhibiting their own shame, wandering stars, for whom God has reserved darkness forever. Further, Enoch also, of the seventh generation after Adam, prophesied that Christ is coming with ten thousand saints (holy angels), to execute judgment upon all the ungodly. For these wicked men are grumblers and complainers against God, living according to their lusts, speaking disrespectful words, and flattering people to gain an advantage over them.

Remember, Jude says, the words of the apostles of Christ, who told you that there would be scornful persons in the last days of earth’s history who live according to their ungodly lusts. These persons who cause divisions in the church, lack moral restraint and have not received the Holy Spirit. But you, Jude says to the true Christians, build up yourselves in your most holy faith in Christ, praying according to the Holy Spirit’s leading, keep the love of God in your hearts, expecting Jesus Christ’s mercy in giving you eternal life.

And have compassion for some persons, making a difference between them and the wicked men in the church. Others save from eternal death (annihilation) with a reverence for God, pulling those in sin out of the fire, and hating even their clothing symbolically stained by their rotting flesh. Jude then closes his letter, saying to the true Christians, that to God who is able to keep them from falling into sin, and to present them faultless with exceeding joy before His glorious presence, be glory, majesty, dominion, and power, both now and forever.

Themes

• A godly leader in the Christian church giving guidance to church members.
• Wicked men in the church leading church members into sin.
• God’s condemnation and judgment of the wicked men in the church.

God as Revealed in the Book

• God who brought judgments in the past upon the wicked.
• God who has reserved the wicked for His coming Judgment Day.
• Christ and His interaction with Satan.
• Christ who is returning to the earth with ten thousand saints (holy angels).

Connections with the Rest of the Bible

Jude wrote, “Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh [and doing homosexual acts], are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire [from God].” Jude 1:7. Does this mean that the fire that destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah is still burning today and will burn for eternity?

Well, Peter wrote concerning the same event, “And [God] turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample [example] unto those that after [afterward] should live ungodly.” 2 Peter 2:6. So, No, the fires of Sodom and Gomorrah are not burning today. The fire went out after they were completely burnt to ashes. This is an example of how the Bible is its own interpreter.

Spiritual Applications

Pray to God sincerely and ask God to help you to do His will, believing that God will help you, and thus you will be enabled to make the spiritual applications noted below:

• Live in accordance with the guidance from godly leaders in the Christian church.
• Beware of wicked men in the church who lead people into sin.
• Know that God condemns wicked people in the church.
• Know about God’s judgments in the past upon the wicked.
• Know that God will punish the wicked on His Judgment Day.
• Beware of accusing others just as Christ did not accuse Satan.
• Know that Christ is returning to the earth with many holy angels.

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